Selvakumari. A v. The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Tirunelveli) Ltd.,
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 10.04.2024
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MS JUSTICE R.N.MANJULA A.Selvakumari ... Petitioner Vs.
1.The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Tirunelveli) Limited, Represented by its Managing Director, Tirunelveli.
2.The General Manager, The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Tirunelveli) Limited, Tirunelveli Region, Tirunelveli.
... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to settle interest at the rate of 6% per annum for the belated payment of petitioner's husband's, late A.Antonymuthu terminal benefits including Provident Fund, Gratuity and Terminal Leave Salary from the date of his death to till the date on which the said benefits were settled to her.
For Petitioner : Mr.A.Rahul For Respondents : Mr.D.Jabaraj Standing Counsel 1/5
O R D E R
By consent of both the parties, this writ petition is taken up for final disposal at the admission stage itself.
2. Mr.D.Jebaraj, learned Standing Counsel, takes notice for the respondents.
3. The petitioner herein had given a representation to the respondents on 12.06.2023 seeking to get interest at the rate of 6% per annum for the belated payment of the petitioner's husband terminal benefits including Provident Fund, Gratuity and Terminal Leave Salary from the date of his death to till the date on which the said benefits were settled to her. Since the said representation was not considered, the present writ petition has been filed.
4. It is needless to point out that whenever a representation of this nature is made to a Statutory Authority, there is a duty cast upon the respondents to consider the same on its own merits and pass appropriate orders in one way or other, instead of keeping the same pending indefinitely. As such, non-consideration of the representation by the Statutory Authority would amount to dereliction of duty. The failure on the part of the authority had 2/5
prompted the petitioner to file this petition for seeking relief through issuance of Writ of Mandamus. As the petitioner has made out a case for invoking the extraordinary powers of this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the respondents are required to be given with direction to consider the representation of the petitioner within a specified time frame.
5. In the light of the above observations, there shall be a direction to the respondents herein to consider the petitioner's representation dated 12.06.2023 on its own merits and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law, within a period of twelve (12) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. It is made clear that this Court has not gone into the merits of the claim of the petitioner and it is open to the respondents to consider the same on its own merits.
6. With the above direction, the Writ Petition stands disposed of. No costs.
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To 1.The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Tirunelveli) Limited, Represented by its Managing Director, Tirunelveli.
2.The General Manager, The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Tirunelveli) Limited, Tirunelveli Region, Tirunelveli.
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R.N.MANJULA, J.
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